Regulating mechanism fob turbine-driven centrifugal compressors



Jan. 10, 1928. 1,655,683

R. G. STANDERWICK REGULATING MECHANISM FOR TURBTNE DRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS Filed April 23. 1926 a S S 5 a E2 Ll.

Inventor: Regmald Gfitandervvuc H'Ls Attorney.

Patented den. 10,

UNITE ST ldfidilitfl REGINALD G. STANDERWICK, F MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGHOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPOJR ATIQN OF KEV) BEGITLAIING MECHANISM renrneizinn-narvnn GENTRIFUGAL coiurnnssens.

Application filed April 23 1926. Serial No. 1,2 36.

tion and arrangement for regulations maoperating condition of the compressor, for

example, in accordance with the suction in the inlet conduit of the compressor, in accordance with the pressure in the discharge H conduit of the compressor, or in accordance with the volume of the substance passing; through the coniipressor, whereby such oper ating condition is maintained at a desired value.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying descri 'itii'in and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a diagramnaitic view of a turbine-driven centrifugal conip sor provided with a regulating mechanism embodying my iirventitni the regulatine' mechanism illustrated being; one which s es to maintain a constant volume of flow through the compress on, (such a mecnanisui being termed usually a constant volume governor), and Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view.

l 'te'lerring to the drawing, 1 indicates an elastic tluidturl i e which drives a centrifugal compressor 2. The flow of elastic fluid to turbine 1 is regulated by a valve mechanism 2-3 the same being shown diagrainn'iatic ly and by way of example as a simple 1:5 valve member 4. which is moved relatively to the valve seat The ex iaust conduit for the turbine is indicated at G. 7 indicates the inlet conduit for the conuiressor and 8 the discharge conduit. The stem 9 of valve member l is connected to a piston 10 which moves in a cylinder 11. Between the top of the cylinder 11 and piston 10 is a spring 12 which serves to bias valve i toward closed position. On an extension 13 oi the turbine shaft is a worm 1a which drives a vertical shaitt 15, there being; a suitable worm wheel (not-shown) on shaft Connected to the upper end of shaft 15 is a centrifugal speed governor 16 comprising weight arms 17 pivoted on a yoke 18 and suitably connected by a spring 19 which opposes outward movement of the weight arms.

The weight arms are connected by a suitable yielding; connection 20 to a tubular pilot valve 21. Pilot valve 21 rotates with the chine of this type in accordance with anspeed governor and is moved down and up by it when weight arms 17 move out and in. Speed governor is located in a suitable housing 22 on the upper end of which is mounted a pilot valve casing 23. Inside pilot valve casing 23 is a restoring bushing in which pilot valve 21 rotates and moves vertically Between the outer surface of restoring bushing 24: and the inner sur "ace oi pilot valve casing 23 is an annular chamber 25 which connected to the interior of bushing 24 bya series of circuinterentiallv spaced ports 26. The upper end of restoring bushing 2% connected by a link 27 to a lever 28, which lever'is tulcrumed on a vertical rod 29 supported on a bracket 30 which projects from pilot valvecasing .43. The left hand end of lever 28 is connected by a spindle 30 to piston 10. The right hand end 01" lever 28 connected by a rod 31 to the head of a; corrugated bellows 32 arranged in a fluidtight casing The casing is supported on a suitable rigid bracket or support 34. The interior of the corrugated bellows 32 open to atmosphere while the exterior is snl jected to the pressure in casing Bellows 32 forms an abutment adapted to be-moved when pressure is applied to it and is to be taken as typical of any suitable device of this type.

The lower end of vertical shaft 15 drives an oil pump located in an oil tank 236. 37 indicates the suction inlet of the pump and 38 the discharge conduit. Discharge conduit 38 is connected. to a port 39 in pilot valve casing 23, the connection being through a small. orifice .0 in a plate ll. Connected to pipe 38 is a branch pipe 42 which leads back to tank 36. On the end of pipe 4-2 is a pressure relief? valve l3, the function of which is to maintain in discharge pipe 88 a predetermined desired pressure. Annular chamber 25 is connected by a passage 44- and a pipe 45 to cylinder 11 at a point below piston 10. Connected to pipe 45 is a branch pipeor by-pass pipe which at its other end is connected to a pilot valve casing 47. Leading from pilot valve'casing 47 is a discharge pipe 18 which extends back to oil tank 86. In pilot valve casingsfi is a pilot valve as adapted to cover and uncover the end ot'pipe a6 thereby regulating the flow of oil through pipe 46. Stem 50 of pilot valve 49 connected to a lever 51 at a point intermediate between its ends. The right till hand end of lever 51 is connected by a rod 51 to a corrugated bellows 52 located in fluid-tight casing 53. The interior of bellows 52 is open to atmosphere while the exterior is subjected to the pressure in casing 58. Casing 53 is connected to casing 33 by a pipe 54. The left hand end of lever 51 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 55 fulcrumed on a bracket 56. Lever is connected by a rod 57 to a corrugated bellows structure 58 located in a fluid-tight casing 59. Corrugated bellows structure 58 comprises an inner bellows 60 and an outer bellows 6i which at their lower ends are connected to a head 62 and attheir upper ends are connected to the under side of a platform 68, which platform serves also as a supporting means for pilot valve casing 47, bellows 52 and casing and bracket 56. Corrugated bellows structure 58 provides an elastic device of the nature of a coiled spring as is well understood, the same having a neutral position and requiring a certain force to either collapse or distend it.

Arranged in inlet conduit 7 is a pressuredifference-creating device (i l of any suit able type which functions to create a pressure difference which bears a definite relation to the rate of flow through the conduit. The leading or high pressure side of pressure-diflerenee-creating device 64 is connected by a pipe 65 to casing 59 and the trailing or low pressure side of pressurediflerence-creating device 64: is connected by a pipe 66 to the annular chamber between bellows 60 and 61. The interior of bellows 60 is open to atmosphere. lVith the foregoing arrangement the bellows structure 58 is subjected to the differential pressure created by the device 6% which serves to effect contraction and expansion of the bellows structure 58 in accordance with changes in the rate of flow through conduit 7. In connection with the bellows structure, it is pointed out that in actual practice the bellows 60 is so small in diameter as compared to bellows 61 that the area of the portion of head 62 which lies within bellows (30 may be disregarded so that it may be considered that the differential pressures created by the pressure-difference-creating device act on equal areas of head 62.

Cn the left hand end lever 55 are suit able adjustable weights 67 for balancing the lever. Also connected to the left hand end of lever 55 is a device 68, the function of which is to modify the characteristic of the differential bellows 58. The device 68 is indicated only d1agrammatically in the drawing. It is fully illustrated and de scribed in my application Serial No. l0l.- 235, filed of even date herewith. Briefly it comprises what 1 term an inverted elastic connection, spring 68 of the device acting on pivoted levers 68" in a manner such that the device assists in the movement. of the bellows structure 58. By the use of this device, the characteristic of the bellows structure may be modified so that it may be moved a unit of distance by any desired pressure value.

indicates an adjustable stop to limit downward movement of the left hand end of lever At 76 is indicated a solenoid, the core 77 of which is connected by a spindle 78 to lever Connected with solenoid T6 is an electrical circuit 79 in which is arranged a suitable switch 80. ll hen switch 80 is closed the solenoid functions to draw the left hand end of lever down against stop 75. i

Casing 33, out: Ge of bellows pipe and casing 53, outside bellows 52, are tilled with a suitable liquid wh reby there is pro vided an hydraulic means for transmitting motion from one bellows to the other.

The operation is as follows Assume that valve is open to a predetermined extent and is supplying suiir eient elastic fluid to turbine l to drive compressor 2 at a speed such that it is delivers what may be termed the inoperative positlon of speed governor 16, it being so that it does not come into action until the speed exceeds a predetermined desired value. Pump 35 operates to deliver oil to pipe and by reason of the relief valve 43 tllT'G is mailained in pipe 38 a predetermined pressure. From pipe 88 il is applied to pressure pipe 39 through orifice L0, and since the pressure in pipe 38 is substan ially constant, the quantity of oil which tars through orifice ll) is substantia y con tant. The oil from passage 39 lows around :sninr lar chamber to pass c all from whence it is discharged to pipe From pipe st) the oil flows to cylinder 11 beneath piston it; and also'through pipe -56 to pilot valve c se ing ll. and thence through pipe l8 back to oil tank 86. l

The mechanism comprising lever 51, positions pilot valve 49 in certain position relatively to the end of pipe whereov an amount of oilflows through pipe such that there is maintained in the pipe and under piston 10 a pressure which will keep piston 10 in a position to hold valve open far ei'iough to supply the required amount of elastic fluid to the tiu'bine. The bellows structure 58 is subjected to the differential pressure created by pressure-(iiHerencc-creating device 64 and by reason of this pressure difference applied to it. it maintains a certain balanced position wherein the bellows structure is collapsed to a certain ex- Hi l esa-,esa

tent, the leading or higher pressure being applied to the outer surface of head 62 It now the volume of flow of fluid through conduit- 7 decreases, which means that the speed of the set must be increased in order to bring it back to normal, the differential pressure created by pressuredifference-creating device decreases with the result that the bellows structure 58 distends somewhat. This serves, through red 57, to lower the right hand end of lever 55 and raise the left. hand end. When right hand end of lever 55 lowers, it lowers also the left hand end. of lever 51, which turns on the upper end of rod 51 as a fulcrum. This lowers pilot valve ell) in'casing 47, thereby covering some what more the end or pipe 4-1-6. 'This decreases the flow of fluid .i om pipe l6, thereby increasing the pressure in the pipe and hence the pressure under piston 10. As a result, piston is raised somewhat against the action of spring 12 to open further valve l, thereby admitting additional elastic fluid to the turbine to increase the speed of the turbine.

\Vhen piston 10 moves upward it turns lever 28 on the upper end of rod 29 as a pivot, the right hand end of the lever being lowered. The lowering of the right hand end of lever 28 distends bellows 32, thereby "forcing liquid from casing 33 through pipe rs. to casing, 53. This causes the bellows 5-2 in casing to collapse somewhat, thereby raisin the right hand end of lever 51, which at this time turns on the ri ht hand end of lever 55 as a "fulcrum. This serves to lift pilot valve 47, thereby moving it back towards its original position. This movement of pilot valve 49 to again uncover somewhat the end of pipe d6 serves to arrest further opening of valve 4 and hence further increases in the speed of the turbine. In other words, this arrangement forms a follow-up connection for the pilot valve to prevent over-travel of the governing mechanism. Vi hcn lever 28 moves, it raises also thereby restoring bushing 24, but owing to the fact that speed governor 16 is inactive at the turbine speeds in question, pilotvalve sieeve 21 overlaps ports 26 to an extent such that the movement of bushing 2d does not uncover ports 26. The movement of bushing 24-, therefore, has no effecton the govern inn; operation.

l i hen the volume of flow through conduit 7 increases above the volume for which the constant volume governor is set, the pressure difference created by device 64 increases with the result that bellows structure 58 is collapsed somewhat, thereby raising the right hand end of lever This raises pilot valve l9 and after the manner already described efiects a closing movement of valve 4, thereby lowering the turbine speed to bring the volume back to normal value."

Speed governor 16 forms a pre-emergency governor, being set so that it is normally inactive. It comes into action to take control of the turbine in case the speed of the set increases beyond a predetermined high value.

By adjusting the value of weight (37 or its posit-ion on lever 55, the volume for which the governor is set may be varied. Preferably the adjustment is efi ected by varying the position of the weight along the lever, the lever being provided with a suitable scale which may be calibrated in terms of volume. false the position of device relatively to lever 55 determines the extent to w ich modifies the characteristic of bellows structure 58. In this connection, it will be understood that bellows structure 58 plus device 68 forms in substance a pressure responsive'device actuated by changes in the pressure dii'lerence set up by the pressureditlerence-creating device 64, and that while I now prefer to use this particular arrange ment, my invention is not limited thereto, as any suitable type of pressure responsive device may be used.

Circuit closer may be located at any point from which it is desired to control the set so as to check its speed when desired. For example, in the case oi blast furnace blowing, it may be desired to slow down the speed of the set during casting. \Vhen circuit closer 80 is closed, the left hand end oi lever 55 is drawn down against stop 75, thereby raising pilot valve 49 and effecting a closing moven'ient of valve means at to an extent such to bring the turbine speed down to the desired value. Stop 75 may be adjusted to limit the total movement of lever to that which will effect the desired speed change.

With the abovedescribed arrangement,

the plaiiforn'i or support 63, together with the control mechanism carried by it, may be located at any desired point adjacent to or in the vicinity of the turbine set and connected to it only by the piping shown. As a result, the control mechanism to be mounted directly on the turbine set becomes comparatively simple in structure and comprises but few parts. This reduces the number of levers on the turbine and serves to simplify the mechanism to be mounted on the turbine. Platform 63 and the mecha nism mounted thereon may be built and lull vention, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus snown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

ll hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States is:

l. The combination oil a turbine driven compressor, valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid to the turbine, 21- fluid-actuated motor for the valve means, a conduit tor supplying fluid under pressure to said motor, a pressure responsive device, a pilot valve connected to said device controlling the pres ure in said conduit, means for supplying" to said pressure responsive device a pressure vvhich bears a detinite relation to an operating coinlition of said coi'npressor, a second pilot valve controlling the pressure in the c iduit, and a peed governor con nectt V to said second pilot valve.

The con'ibination of? a turbine driven compr ssor, valve means controlling the flow 01 elastic fluid to the turbine, at fluid-actuated motor for the valve means, a conduit ior supplying fluid under pressure to said mot r, a pressure responsive device, a pilot valve connected to said device controlling the p ;ure in said conduit, means for supplying to said pressure res e device a pressure which bears a definite relation to an operating condition of said compressor, a second pilot valve controlling the nfessnre in said conduit independently or the firstnamed pilot valve, 11 speed governor connected to scid second pilot valve, and a follow-up mechanism actuated by movement of the valve means which acts on the firstnumed pilot a ive to prevent overtravel of the valve means.

3. The combination with a turbine driven centrifugal compressor having valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid to the "turbine and a linid-actuated motor for movinc; the valve means, of means for regulating said motor comprising a pressure responsive device, a floating lever, means connecting the pressure responsive device to said heating lever, a conduit for supplying actuating fluid to the motor, a pilot valve for controlling the pressure of the actuating fluid in said conduit, means connecting said pilot valve to said floating lever, a. movable abutment connected to said floating lever, a second movable abutment connected with said valve means, means actuated by 1novement of said valve means to etleet movement oi both of said abutments, and means for supplying to said pressure responsive device a pressure which bears a definite relation to an operating condition of said compressor.

l. The conibination with a turbine driven centritugal compressor having valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid to the turoiue and a fluid-actuated motor for moving the valve means, ot' a constant volume governor for said turbine comprising a lever, a pressure responsive device connected to the lev r, means responsive to flow through said compressor connected to said pressure responsive device, av conduit for supplying acti'iating fluid to the motor, a pilot valve connected to said lever Which controls the pressure of the actuating fluid in said conduit, a speed governor, and a pilot va ve connected to said governor for controlling the pressure of the astuating liuid in the supply conduit.

The combination with a turbine, a compressor driven by it, valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid to the turbine, and a lluid-actuated motor for said valve means, of a constant volume governing means therefor comprising a movable device, means for moving it in response to the volume of flow in the compressor, a lever connected to said movable device, a weight on said lever, the position of the Weight on the lever being variable, a conduit for supplying fluid pres sure to said motor, a. pilot valve connected with said lever which controls the fluid pressure in said conduit, and means for trans mittiug movement from said valve means to said pilot v lve.

ln witness whereot, l. have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of April, 1926.

REGIITAL'D (1. ST LNDEl-UYICK. 

